Funeral Services via Web

Local mortuary uses innovative technology to webcast funerals in real time worldwide.

 

By Brittny Goodsell Jones -– Funerals can now be webcast around the world from Logan's own Nelson Funeral Horne. For family members, this means everyone can attend the funeral even if they are scattered across the nation.

 

Funeral Director David Simmons said the first funeral service webcast at Nelson Funeral Home occurred in the first part of August for a family member who could not make it to a funeral in Logan. Nelson Funeral Home had recently scattered across the nation.Webcasting is the technology to broadcast events - in this case funeral services - in real time online.

 

Nelson Funeral Home had recently bought the technology from the company Event By Wire, and when he told the family webcasting was available, they jumped at the chance, he said.

 

"Virtually every family has a need for this or could be affected positively by this," Simmons said.

 

Simmons, a part-owner of Nelson Funeral Home, said this Logan business was the first mortuary in Utah to offer webcasting. And as of the first day of September, only one other Utah-based funeral home offers the technology to its patrons, according to Event By Wire.

 

Webcast funerals began with a California resident Dan Grumley. More than two years ago, Grumley said his dad died in Los Angeles, 500 miles away from his home. Grumley traveled to the funeral home in Los Angeles where the service was being held. He told the funeral director to use whatever they could to connect his family to the funeral. (Grumley had teenage children in school and relatives throughout the country who were unable to attend.) Grumley, who has worked in the software business for more than 15 years, said he expected his request was common. It turns out. he was just naive. "They looked at me like I grew a new head," said Grurnley, the president and CEO of Event By Wire.

 

"After explaining it a second time he said, 'Oh, I think you need George.' I thought George was a software program, so I guess I needed George. He said, 'Hold on, I will call him.'

 

Well, George was a videographer who charged $500 todo this."Forget George. It was interesting to Grumley that no one had tried to connect family members by broadcasting funeral services online. After realizing no one could help him, Grumley said he got upset.

 

This got him thinking about how a company could create a webcasting service.

 

And Grumley left his job to begin Event By Wire in 2005. The business is built around the question, "Is there anyone you want to view the service who lives too far, can't afford airfare, is too ill or frail to travel, has young children at home, or has job commitments?" "100 percent of families are going to say yes to one of those," Grumley said.

 

At Nelson Funeral Horne, Simmons said the option for webcasting is available to all customers, but just like other funeral arrangements, families will be charged for the service. Nelson Funeral home is currently offering the service for free, since they are still learning about webcasting.

 

But when they begin to charge, Simmons said the cost will be worth of it. “Families do a delicate dance finding a (funeral) date that will work for everyone” he said. “Now any date can work.”

 

The Webcasting system comes in a small, portable bag wich allows it to be taken to the graveside service - all that is needed is a basic connection, Simmons said. The recorded portion of a funeral is downloaded onto a web page in real time.

 

The funeral recording is uploaded to the Web, so people can watch the event after it occurred if necessary, Simmons said. Once the video is uploaded, an e-mai l with the webcast link is sent to a designated family member. A password to type in after accessing the webcast page is sent in the e-mail, That family member can then forward the link to anyone. The password is just a precaution to protect the privacy of the family.

 

For information about Webcast funerals. contact Nelson Funera l Horne at 752-326 1. They are at 162 E. 400 North in Logan.

 

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Testimonials

  • This was Beautiful...

      This was Beautiful. The most horrible time of my life was made easier with the service of this Funeral Home. I can't express my appreciation enough.


      Thank you again



      --
      Katie Creel's mommy and daddy.

  • This is a wonderful thing...

      This is a wonderful thing to be able to view the service from so far away.The video part was fine.


      Thank you for doing this.



      --
      Pat Wendrzycki.

  • This is wonderful!...

      This is wonderful! I attended the Wake but was unable to attended the funeral. Being able to view this online is incredible!.



      --
      Terry Ellis Devall.

  • What a beautiful ceremony...

      What a beautiful ceremony. Your video allowed me to witness the relative I never really knew. It is always nice to experience something positive in today's reckless world.


      Gary, left an imprint on his family and now on me. I wished I could have known him better.


      God Bless You All! Love



      --
      Jackie Schreier.

  • You did a wonderful job...

      You did a wonderful job I couldn't make it to my brother's funeral but now I feel like I was there.


      Thank you very much.



      --
      Carol Showers.

  • I found the video stream ...

      I found the video stream of my aunt's funeral very meaninful. I was unable to attend and this was a great way to remember her and join the rest of my family at her funeral.


      Thanks for making this possible!.



      --
      Mark Hellmann.

  • Thank you so much...

      Thank you so much. This is great. We have "the other woman" car so we didn't get to see the parade.


      Ive told a lot of our people about the website. Rubber City Model A club. We received anaward from the Hibernians.


      Great Day .



      --
      Shirley.

  • This was a lovely...

      This was a lovely service for my Aunt Mackey.


      Thank you so much.




      --
      Charlene Hankowitz.

  • Thank you so much...

      Thank you so much for allowing me to view this online.I was unable to come and know DuWanyne thru friends that are his family in Indiana.He was a special person and I wish his family well.


      They are in my prayers and I am very sorry for their loss.


      This is a wonderful idea to have these on line.


      Thank you again.



      --
      Brandi Brown.

  • What a wonderful idea...

      What a wonderful idea. I was unable to attend the service and that was a closer for me. My heart felt thanks.


      Thank you



      --
      Stella.

  • Thank you so much for having...

      Thank you so much for having this service available. I never knew something like this existed. I'm disabled and was upset I wouldn't be able to attend my Aunt Janice's service. It meant so much to me that I was able to attend after all from my home.


      She was a big part of my life and I'm very happy I was able to celebrate her life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing this.



      --
      Karen

  • I am a friend of ...

      I am a friend of Alice Baratone and I just wanted to send my condolences and appreciation for Drew and his service for our country. I didn't know him personally but this service was touching and I appreciate him giving his life to help keep us free.


      God Bless you all.



      --
      Stephen Carter

  • Thank you so much for helping ...

      Thank you so much for helping me to play the service-it ran just fine after we spoke.


      I had no idea your video service even existed - I am so appreciative that is was available-I am in Florida and was unable to attend my father's funeral so I am truly glad that your product allowed me to view the funeral service - it was just like being in the back pew of the church.


      Thanks again for all your assistance during this difficult time.




      --
      Bonnie

  • Thank you for providing this service...

      Thank you for providing this service for those of us that could not attend and pay our respects in person.


      Respectfully.



      --
      Dave Parker

  • Thank you so much...

      Thank you so much... for my son and I just learned of his Nana's path to a greater place.This a loud him to find a little peace with his loss of such a wonderful person.She loved him so much and he knows this and now she will be forever watching over him as I say. Thank You.



      --
      Tammy Lowe

  • Very impressive presentation...

      Very impressive presentation. Well done.



      --
      Wayne Clock

  • This is my...

      This is my first time to veiw a funeral service.I would like to commend Macon Funeral Home.This is something that Macon County can be proud of.



      --
      Dixie Mason

  • This was the first...

      This was the first time I had ever seen anything like this, what a great idea



      --
      Terry Hansen

  • Thank you so much ...

      Thank you so much for having this service available for people.I was unable to attend in person and was so happy to be able to still be present. My only feedback would be to have the camera set up so you can see the attendees as well as the lector.I understand this may be a policy or a immediate family request.

      Sound was great, picture was great. Thanks again!



      --
      Heidi O'Claire

  • I'm Inga's neice...

      I'm Inga's neice and I live in Billings. The service was beautiful and I enjoyed having this service to watch from my home since I wasn't able to get to Great Falls. I truly wish that our homes here in Billings had the same program. Thank you so very much.

      --
      Sandy Oium

  • The broadcast of my father's...

      The broadcast of my father's service was very nicely done, and provides a valuable service for people who can't attend in person. Thank you, Harriet Ritter & Barry Burd.

      --
      Harriet Ritter & Barry Burd

  • This was beautiful and I thank you ...

      This was beautiful and I thank you for allowing me to be a part of it being so far away in Alabama and not being able to attend.

      --
      Sue Thompson

  • Incredible!...

      Incredible!....

      --
      Jeanie Hamel

  • IT' WAS SO BEAUTIFUL...

      IT' WAS SO BEAUTIFUL TO TO SEE MY FAMILY,AND MY FUTURE NEPHEW IN LAW IN OHIO WHILE LIVE IN TEXAS. IT WAS LIKE BEING THERE WITHOUT THE COLD WEATHER,AND SNACKS!.

      --
      Tamara Menke

  • Thank you so much...

      Thank you so much for providing this service for those of us who could not attend the funeral of Carl Anderson in person. Despite the weather-related interruption, it was wonderful to be able to share in the contemplation of his life and death.
      Your work is very much appreciated.
      --
      Polly Browne, Mankato, Minnesota

  • I enjoyed this video very much...

      Hello,

      I enjoyed this video very much. I appreciate the staff at Baue's holding this remembrance so that we may honor our loved one. The support they offer is amazing.
      Thank you.
      --
      The family of Gary David Witt

  • I think is such a blessing...

      Hello,

      This is the first time I have ever viewed a funeral by eventbywire and I think is such a blessing to be able to be part of the funeral when you cannot be there.
      Thank you.
      --
      Susan Sanderson

  • I love the event by wire...

      Hello,

      I love the "eventbywire"........is there a way to get a copy of my Dad's service...before it's gone forever??

      Thanks!!

      Susan Ankrom

  • What a wonderful service...

      Thank you so very much for enabling me to attend Brother Massengill's funeral even though I was unable to be there in person. What a wonderful service you are providing. I appreciate this so much and wanted you to know

      Diana Clark
      Collegedale, TN

  • As I was not able to attend the funeral...

      As I was not able to attend the funeral today for Mr. K I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be able to watch in online. After being told I could watch it online, I tried and it worked great!! The service was beautiful, I'm sure all planned by Mr. K, but nevertheless, you made it available for me to watch. Thank you so much! Mr. K was a large part in my musical growth and experiences and not being able to attend the service was difficult.

      Thank you again!

      -Ruth Trinrud

  • I watched the services yesterday for Joe...

      My name is Carole Ballanga, I'm Joe's youngest sister , 66 years old. I watched the services yesterday for Joe since I could not be in New Orleans (I live in San Antonio, TX) and it was like being there. Thank you so much for doing such a beautiful job of broadcasting and helping to give me and other relatives out-of-state some closure.

      God Bless you.

      -Carole Ballanga

  • Thank you..

      Thank you for making this available for viewing on the internet.

      Have a great day and God Bless!

  • I'm a friend of Joe's family and live out...

      Thank you for making it possible for me to attend his service via your webcast. It was a lovely service and the cast was very well done. I work for a funeral home myself, and our lead director thought your camera angle was awesome.

      Dee Gurnett
      San Antonio, TX

  • Thank you..

      Thank you for making this available for viewing on the internet.

      Have a great day and God Bless!

  • Thank you so much...

      Thank you so much for making this available for us- especially me and my husband, all the way in Australia. We hooked up my laptop to our home theate speakers and sat on the couch and watched and listened and felt like we were really there. The webcasting is invaluable and I can't thank you enough for allowing us to participate in my grandfather's service. We didn't have any technical problems with it, the picture and audio were great. I was also able to see some folks I haven't seen in a long time that were at the service - it was wonderful.

      Thank you so much.

      - Andi Hazelwood

  • Excellent job...

      Excellent job, thank you so much for making this available to family and friends who couldn't make it to Mike's service. We are very grateful and the video was very well done.

      Again, thank you,
      Sincerely,
      Judy Farmer,
      Ventura, California

  • Event by wire was really great

      The Louisiana Police Memorial event by wire was really great. I would have missed it had it not been taped and stored. Thank you so very very much.

      Bobbie Osterman New Orleans, LA